28 minute read
BUSINESS DIALOGUE
Dr Sandra Tinaj,
General Manager, and Dr Milica Vukotić, Dean of the Faculty of information Systems and Technologies, University of Donja Gorica
Education Is At A Major Turning Point!
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Leaders’
MEETING POINT
Dragoljub Milinković,
CEO, Veterinarski zavod Subotica
TotalEnergies Marketing Serbia
Radisav Osmajlić,
Director for Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey, WTW
Philanthropy
New Laboratory For A New Age
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Planting Seedlings Of Care For The Environment
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Every Risk Is A New Opportunity
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The Harp Talent
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Education Is At A Major Turning Point!
UDG offers a unique educational model
The University of Donja Gorica (UDG) is dedicated to its students and training them for both their professional advancement and to be a responsible citizen of the globalised world. The UDG’s innovative study model prepares students for rapid changes, developing their entrepreneurial spirit and their passion for learning
The University of Donja Gorica announced a 20-year strategic partnership with Arizona State University, one of the most innovative universities in the U.S. and one of the world’s most prestigious higher education institutions. UDG and ASU are today working together to develop and scaleup high-quality academic programmes.
Is the development of an innovative study model the right and best response to the crisis confronting classical university education? It is evident that the classical university is currently in crisis. Thus, the questions to be posed are: how can one study and live in a world of rapid changes governed by complete uncertainty? How to organise studies for today’s student, who will change their profession seven to 10 times during their life, unlike their parents, who perhaps changed jobs twice, and their grandparents, who spent their entire working life at the same workplace? Furthermore, with life expectancy having extended for these generations, a question arises as to what should be instilled in the foundations of students’ characters, their knowledge and skills, their value system, to ensure that these foundations endure that longevity. This is why education is facing great challenges today and why it is at a major turning point! We are striving to respond with our innovative study model. First of all, UDG is dedicated to its students and training them for both their professional advancement and to be a responsible citizen of the global world. The strictest professor at our university is the professor called life, which means that we don’t teach our students about life, but rather put them in a position to learn from life, to learn by living. Unlike classical universities, which mostly function according to the A = K model (Ability = Knowledge), we are developing our A = K x i2 model, where the i variable refers to the intensity of learning by living, equating to the student’s intensity of life during their studies. One knows only what one has experienced and felt. We prepare students for rapid changes and the uncertainties that we mentioned, and we invest a lot to develop the confidence of our students and encourage their passion for learning. Your graduates aren’t registered with employment bureaus, because demand for them is growing, but also because they start working independently thanks to having developed their entrepreneurial spirit. And that spirit is even taught at UDG faculties? During their studies, students engage in a significant number of team projects and are encouraged to develop their entrepreneurial ideas, thinking in a global context. As we’ve already noted, we develop students’ awareness to be responsible citizens of a globalised world.
The date of 30th March represents an important landmark for you, because it was then that you organised a major launch on the occasion of signing a memorandum of
cooperation. What can you tell us about that memorandum? The University of Donja Gorica announced a 20-year strategic partnership with Arizona State University, which has been ranked the most innovative university in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report for the last seven years consecutively and proclaimed one of the world’s most prestigious universities by publication Times Higher Education; and with the Cintana Alliance, a global network of ambitious universities that work together to develop and scaleup high-quality academic programmes. This partnership significantly improves the quality of higher education and the opportunities that will be open to young people from across the region. Thanks to this partnership, UDG’s academic environment will welcome the world leader in innovation to the region, which will bring with it its global influence in scientific research and the best online programme for undergraduate business degrees. In the future, UDG and the Cintana Alliance will work collaboratively to expand UDG’s resources beyond Montenegro through online degree programmes and regional learning centres throughout the region. UDG is ASU’s exclusive partner for Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Through this partnership, UDG will offer a unique educational model that offers a wide range of new academic opportunities to students, such as access to the ASU curriculum and the unique opportunity to participate in dual degree programmes, student mobility programmes, co-teaching and research exchanges.
UDG is among the few universities that invest heavily in general education, culture, entertainment, sports and student travel. How important is that for every young person? Is that “breadth” as important as a diploma? As we stated earlier, all of this belongs to, and is derived from, our equation (intensity of life), without which knowledge has no value. The intensity of life aspect encompasses all study visits, seminars, training courses, projects, research, excursions, social events, sporting activities etc., generating cultural capital that is built among young people through the various elements of activity mentioned. Based on these principles and the essence of the A = K x i² model, it can be seen that the emphasis of our studies is on the essential being of the student; how they can acquire as many skills as possible during their studies, develop a better sense of responsibility and speed of decision-making, and acquire qualities that are important to thrive in the globalised world. Most of your students have opportunities to work and study abroad, through exchanges, internship programmes or seasonal work, and many of them manage to secure employment prior to graduating. How did you achieve that? We achieve this through UDG’s great openness and its great commitment to its own internationalisation. We achieve it through partnerships with a large number of universities and companies from around the world, as well as through international projects that also, in addition to professors and associates, involve students.
UDG is known for the constant modernisation of its approach to teaching and the introduction of new programmes. What’s new for the generation that’s enrolling in studies this year? UDG’s programmes are oriented towards each individual student, while still providing fundamental technical knowhow in core areas, including IT, research, entrepreneurial and communication skills, as well as a focus on learning multiple languages. By maximising the students’ exposure to a wide range of learning experiences, UDG is becoming a transformational leader in the region. The biggest novelty for the new generation will be access to the repository of Arizona State University, a leader in innovative teaching concepts. Students will benefit from careeroriented curricula, practical experience in real-world projects and opportunities to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges while increasing their competitiveness on their future career paths.
LOCAL NEWS
“The consolidation of banks is important because it creates more stable banking groups on the market, with greater credit potential” – VLADIMIR VASIĆ, SECRETARY
GENERAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SERBIAN BANKS
OTP BANK SERBIA AND OTP GROUP PRESENTED RESULTS FOR 2021
In 2021, OTP banka Srbija made 68 million euros in profit and over 228 million euros in revenue. The historical result was also recorded in factoring, where the turnover of 400 million euros was realized, which strengthened OTP’s long-term status as a leader in this field. After the integration, the bank managed to maintain the position of the largest creditor of the economy and households, and the market leader in factoring, leasing, and e-commerce services. Including the income of the former OTP banka a.d. Belgrade by the time of integration in May 2021, OTP Bank Serbia generated revenue of 228.2 million euros, an increase of 4.2 percent, or 9.1 million euros compared to 2020. On the last day of 2021, assets amounted to 5.66 billion euros, which is an increase in net assets by as much as 429.7 million euros compared to 2020, or 8.2 percent.
IMF PREDICTS 3.5% GROWTH IN SERBIA
The International Monetary Fund predicts 3.5% growth in Serbia’s GDP this year, with 4% for 2023. Serbia’s growth forecast for the current year is lower by 1.0 percentage points compared to the IMF’s projection made in October last year when growth of 4.5% was projected, while the forecast for 2023 has remained unchanged. In the new April report World Economic Outlook currently being presented, the IMF estimates that inflation in our country will amount to 7.7% this year, and 4.7% next year. Serbia’s current account deficit is expected to increase to 6.1% in 2022 and to 6.7% next year.
A1 CELEBRATES ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY IN SERBIA
A1 Serbia celebrates its first year under the A1 brand and 15 years of business on the Serbian market. The then Vip, and from 7 April 2021, A1 Serbia, shook the Serbian telecommunications market. Today, A1 has close to 2.5 million users in Serbia and is the network with the largest number of people. This operator recorded the best ratio of numbers transferred to and from the network last year, and thus the growth of the number of users according to this category - close to 10 thousand. A1 Serbia is part of the international A1 Telekom Austria Group with 25 million users in seven countries.
“All companies wanting to achieve market success must, first and foremost, find the inner strength to be constantly ready for change” – SRĐAN
RADIĆ, CEO, TELEGROUP
NEW TERMINAL OF THE BELGRADE NIKOLA TESLA AIRPORT OPENS
The newly built part of the existing terminal at the “Nikola Tesla” Belgrade Airport has been put into operation, which has increased the airport’s capacity, comfort, and efficiency of passenger flows. With a total area of 13,600 m2, the new part of the terminal has an additional 8 waiting rooms with air bridges and 5 waiting rooms for boarding planes in separate parking positions, so that on the C side there are now a total of 19 gates. The newly built part of the terminal is designed in accordance with the standards of the parent company VINCI Airports, in terms of materials, color palettes, marking systems, equipment, and other architectural and interior elements. In addition to the new part of the terminal, the first phase of the expansion of the associated platform of nearly 27,000 m2 has been completed, which includes 4 new parking positions, including one for wide-body aircraft.
SERBIAN FARMERS CHOOSE OILSEEDS DUE TO UKRAINE WAR
Around two million hectares will be sown in Serbia this spring, and the largest area will be traditionally occupied by corn – about 950,000 hectares, which is about 70,000 hectares less than last year. Due to good prices and problems in Russia and Ukraine, farmers will sow more soya beans and sunflower. According to announcements by local farmers, sunflower could occupy about 250,000 hectares, about 30,000 more than last year. It is estimated that due to the war in Ukraine, the production of sunflower there could fall to the lowest level in 13 years – to about 4.3 million hectares, a third less than last year.
20 YEARS OF SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IN SERBIA
Today, after 20 years of business, Schneider Electric in Serbia brings together more than 100 local companies, in a network of partners, which will continue to expand. The company is focused on software, primarily on solutions that contribute to energy efficiency in facility management, as well as for industrial applications, all with the aim of increasing profitability, reducing risk, and greater sustainability. In addition, an important segment of the company is the Schneider Electric Hub in Novi Sad, where over 900 experts work on the development and delivery of software for electricity and gas distribution, and who will work on new businesses and software in the field of energy from this year.
New Laboratory For A New Age
Veterinarski zavod Subotica was established in 1921 as the state sought the capacity to produce vaccines. Today we have seen that support for companies like ours is the foundation for establishing national security in terms of animal health and, indirectly, human health
Our goal is to become a reference point in the field of international biological production. We can count on almost 100 years of rich experience, on our production capacity and on our staff as the basis for the development and stability of our company - says
Mr Milinković.
Last year, you celebrated Veterinarski zavod Subotica’s 100th birthday and your entry into the Labiana family, a great foundation for further development. What is the goal for your second century? As a member of the Labiana Group, the strategic goals for the company’s future are to develop biological products and enter the international market. This year, the construction of a new control laboratory will be completed according to all the standards of Good Laboratory Practices. In this way, we are creating a platform for the company’s continued growth. We want to offer our knowledge and resources on the CDMO market. We are recognised in the Balkans as a stable and high quality brand with a long tradition. We want to expand our product portfolio and build partnerships with other companies in the world of animal health. The main focus for the new century remains our people and innovation.
What is the essence of the One Health concept and why is it so important? In the One Health concept, we contribute to animal health and in that way take care of human health and environmental protection at the same time. Our Institute is an indispensable factor in animal husbandry in Serbia, but also in the entire region, which is why we want to further develop this role.
In cooperation with a national network of researchers, a team of our experts has produced a vaccine against Bluetongue disease
Global events in the last few years teach us that humans and animals form a single ecosystem that must be respected. By taking care of animals and nature, we are actually taking care of ourselves and the future of mankind. As part of the Labiana family, we believe that our mission is to promote and develop these health concepts globally.
Vaccines have been your number one strategic product for decades. What is the innovation potential in this segment of your business? We are continuously monitoring the occurrence of new diseases that are a danger to animal health and we conduct research and work on the development of a high quality response through new vaccines. In cooperation with a national network of researchers in this field, and with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, a team of our experts managed to produce a vaccine against Bluetongue disease. In developing innovations in vaccine production and applying innovative solutions in our company, we will establish the foundation for the future development of new vaccines.
How do you assess cooperation with state institutions in Serbia? By supporting the One Health concept and relying on our own resources, we are enabling national sustainability in vaccine production and immunoprophylactic protection of both animals and humans. Thanks to our institute, the only producer of animal vaccines in the country and the region, Serbia can produce all the necessary vaccines completely independently in the event of an outbreak of a dangerous infectious disease. In our jubilee year we have signed two protocols on cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Defence, in which we are recognised as a reliable partner in animal health.
Planting Seedlings Of Care For The Environment
With the ongoing challenges to preserve our planet that’s endangered by climate change, global multienergy company TotalEnergies continues to pursue its ambition of reaching its carbon neutrality objective for the second half of the century. This means not only transforming the way energy is produced, transported and used, but also requires a collective effort that includes civil society
In accordance with the company’s global strategy, the TotalEnergies local representative office in Serbia organised an action in Belgrade on 18th April, thus marking this year’s Earth Week with a dedicated activity that involved three preschools: Carica Milica and Princeza Olivera in the Savski Venac municipality, and Sveti Sava in the Banovo Brdo neighbourhood. In a joint effort to raise awareness of the importance of trees to life on the planet, company employees joined forces with preschool children to plant mini parks in the schoolyards of each of these institutions. In an effort to forge enduring bonds and create a culture of appreciation for plantlife, the participating children were asked to attach small name tags to each of the saplings and attend to their watering needs whenever necessary. The mini parks that they created together will serve as a daily reminder of how important it is to care for the environment and thereby help protect the climate. With the aim of contributing to the development of host communities and regions, TotalEnergies promotes initiatives that protect ecosystems, linking them to awareness-raising efforts and educational activities that place young people at the forefront of these efforts. The company’s social engagement is an integral part of its ambition to be a world-class player in energy transition, providing energy that’s more affordable, cleaner, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. TotalEnergies’ focus on climate concerns is integral to its four areas of strategic focus: natural gas, electricity generated from renewables and gas, petroleum products and carbon neutrality.
REGIONAL NEWS
“The state must buy domestic food and limit exports, subsidise raw materials and regulate the food chain” – TANJA FAJON, MEMBER OF
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FROM SLOVENIA
SERBIA, SLOVENIA AND EU ESTABLISH REGIONAL ELECTRICITY EXCHANGE
ELES and EMS, transmission system operators from Slovenia and Serbia, together with the European Electricity Exchange EPEX SPOT, will establish the first regional electricity exchange for Central and Southeast Europe. The new legal entity Alpine-Adriatic Danube Electricity Exchange – ADEX will offer harmonized and unique spot trade services in Slovenia and Serbia, with the aim of expanding its business and services to other countries in Central and Southeast Europe, said Elektromreža. Serbia (EMS). ELES, EMS and EPEX SPOT will own the same number of ADEX shares. The agreement envisions a business merger of the Slovenian BSE and the Serbian SEEPEX electricity exchanges.
ROMANIA’S CONSTANTA PORT BECOMES MAJOR ROUTE FOR UKRAINIAN GRAIN
Ukraine has so far sent about 80,000 tonnes of grain to the Romanian port of Constanta, and even larger quantities are expected to arrive, according to the director of the National Company for the Administration of Maritime Ports (CNAPM) Constanta, Florin Goidea. He explained that the grain arrived either by rail or barges on the Danube, and assured that the port has the capacity to handle additional grain exports, local Adevarul reported. The storage capacity in the port of Constanta is about two million tonnes, and last year exports of about 24 mln tons were shipped from here.
CROATIA’S INDUSTRIAL SALES IN FEBRUARY UP 21.9%
The volume of industrial sales in Croatia in February 2022 was 21.9% higher than in February 2021 and 6.9% higher than in January 2022, according to figures released by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Compared with February 2021, industrial sales increased by 19.3% on the domestic market and by 25.7% on foreign markets. Broken down by main industrial groupings, sales of durable consumer goods increased by 46.6%, sales of energy by 44.0%, sales of intermediate goods by 32.3%, sales of capital goods by 16.2% and sales of non-durable consumer goods by 11.3%. Industrial sales had been on the rise since the beginning of 2021, with the exception of February when they dropped by 7.7%. The lowest annual increase, of 1.7%, was recorded in January, after which double-digit increases were recorded, and the highest in April 2021, of 40.6%.
WIZZ AIR INTRODUCES FLIGHT CONNECTING BOSNIA’S SARAJEVO TO GERMANY’S SAARBRUCKEN
The Saarbrucken-Sarajevo flights will start operating on 14th June. Wizzair, the Hungarian low-cost carrier, has announced that it will start operating with the flights from Germany’s Saarbrucken to the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. The announcement was shared through Wizzair’s official Twitter account. The new service will be offered twice per week, every Tuesday and Saturday, Wizz Air’s flight schedule shows. “The integration of the Western Balkans is one of the greatest tasks for the EU” - OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR
GROWTH OF MONTENEGRIN ECONOMY HITS 3.5 PER CENT
According to the latest forecasts of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW), the Montenegrin economy will grow by 3.5% this year. In the latest spring report, the Institute predicted that the Montenegrin economy would strengthen by 3.7 per cent next year, and by 3.3 per cent in 2024. In case of a negative scenario, WIIW for Montenegro forecasts gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 1.8 per cent for this year, 2.2 per cent for next year, and 2.8 per cent for 2024. Lower economic growth in Eastern and Central Europe and a deep recession in Ukraine and Russia are predicted, reports Tanjug.
NORTH MACEDONIA’S ESM TO BUILD FOUR PV PLANTS
North Macedonia’s state-owned electricity producer ESM announced its plans to build four photovoltaic (PV) power plants with a combined capacity of 280 MW near the REK Bitola thermal power plant (TPP). ESM is currently working with a consultant from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on the concept for a 20 MW PV plant which will be installed next to the coal-fired TPP, the electricity producer said in a press release.
Every Risk Is A New Opportunity
WTW operates in 140 countries and is a global leader in people, risk and capital management consulting. In Serbia, it focuses on risk management through insurance brokerage and the designing of employee benefit programmes
Identifying client needs and market specifics, and then developing products that will meet these needs, is the way WTW operates in the region. As a result, a new hotel insurance product has emerged.
Which of your services is in greatest demand in Serbia and which business areas are yet to grow? Our company is one of the global leaders in people, risk and capital management consulting. At WTW we provide data driven and insight led solutions that makes our clients more resilient and their employees more engaged. Our services in Serbia are focused on risk management through insurance brokerage, employee benefits programmes designing and advising on total employee compensation. Besides this, in the central and eastern Europe region we provide strategic HR consulting services, as well as advice to insurance companies, together with the innovative software solutions to improve their business.
For you from WTW, risk is not exclusively a bad thing, because you look at it through opportunities that need to be exploited. Is this exactly what allows your customers to make extra profit? There are different definitions of risk, but we prefer the one according to which risk is the chance that an outcome or investment’s actual gains will differ from an expected outcome or return and which can be quantified by the standard deviation of a certain event. In other words, there is always the possibility that the realisation of an event can result in negative, but also positive ef-
fects. Our job is to use various techniques to reduce the likelihood of the occurrence and consequences of negative events for our clients, but also to increase the chances and effects of positive events.
Is your success, among other things, based on offering clients innovative solutions based both on global knowledge and the experience and knowledge of local opportunities? We see this approach as our greatest comparative advantage. Recognising client needs and market specifics, and then developing products that will meet these needs, is our way of working in the region. One of the results of this approach is our new hotel insurance product, which includes property insurance, business interruption, general liability and directors and officer’s liability, which we developed in collaboration with the Generali Group and our colleagues from our headquarters in London. It is characterised by extremely high-quality insurance coverage with numerous extensions. This product covers, for example, the consequences of terrorism, fraud and other malicious acts of hotel staff, damage to items entrusted to the hotel, the financial consequences of administrative closure of the hotel or loss of a location’s attractiveness, product liability (food and beverage), liability for organising excursions and recreational sports activities, but also responsibility for inappropriate advertising and other risks that are otherwise difficult to ensure. All this can now be ensured by applying the bespoken WTW global insurance wordings that are adapted to be compliant with local legal frameworks in all Central and Eastern European countries.
The Harp Talent
Founded in 2003 as a non-profit action tank, Multikultivator connects with institutions and individuals from around the globe to produce concerts, festivals, educational music programmes, clinics and conferences, creating a unique network of networks
Zoja Đorđević is an extraordinary young harpist from Belgrade. Dedicated and hardworking, Zoja is the holder of Vuk’s diploma in two high schools. In addition, she is the Student of The Generation in high music school Stanković. This summer, Zoja is heading for Oslo, Norway, to study at The Norwegian Academy of Music in the class of famous harpist and professor Ms Isabelle Perrin. Multikultivator, the organisation that has been systematically providing support and extraordinary opportunities for the professional development of young musicians from Serbia for more than 12 years, has launched a fundraiser to help Zoja’s dreams come true. The people at Multikultivator believe that music impacts people positively. That’s why they organise concerts and festivals to contribute to making the world a better place. For a lasting impact, they are actively involved in shaping new generations of musicians through their platform for music education simply called “Multiversity.” Multikultivator is Berklee Global Partner for Serbia and neighbouring countries. Their latest action was launched to raise funds to support young harpist Zoja Đorđević studies at The Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, Norway, in the class of renowned professor Ms Isabelle Perrin. Zoja was born on 22nd November 2002 in Belgrade, to a family in which music has always played a significant role. During the 10 years of her musical education, Zoja was awarded at numerous competitions in Serbia and abroad, both as a soloist and chamber ensemble member. Her first solo concert came at the age of 14 in the Great Hall of the Belgrade Youth Centre, playing for her first instrument. In addition to her regular musical education, Zoja didn’t miss a single opportunity for additional professional training with professionals from Serbia and abroad. Zoja loves to perform. On stage, she feels inspired and free. Independently, with chamber ensembles or a band, she has performed at the Great Hall of Kolarac Endowment, The Residence of Princess Ljubica, the Great Hall of the Belgrade Youth Centre, Belgrade Cultural Centre Gallery, Mikser Festival, Super Dot, The Museum of Science and Technology, Gallery Progress, House of King Peter. In June 2021, Zoja performed at the UK Ambassadorial Residence in Belgrade on the occasion of the official celebration of the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.
FUNDRAISER
Harp students from around the world apply every year to the class of Professor Isabelle Perrin at The Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. Zoja is one of three students admitted to her class in 2022. This fundraiser aims to raise €15,000.00 per year of study. This amount includes living expenses, student visas and administrative expenses at the academy on an annual basis, while education itself is free. You can support this action by participating in the Fundraising Dinner with a concert on 20th May, 2022, at the creative agency Super Dot, or support her public Fundraising Concert that will take place in Belgrade during the first half of June.
WORLD NEWS
“Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is a digital town square” – ELON MUSK, CEO OF TESLA
MOTORS
INFLATION OR GROWTH?
A JPMorgan survey shows a record high 86% of its clients planned to raise equity exposure. It is unclear if those plans will have come unstuck after the latest spurt in oil and commodity, and galloping inflation expectations. The bank itself is warning central banks face a stark choice --to “live with energy-driven inflation or kill off economic growth”. The rise in five-year Treasury “breakevens” to 3.5% is alarming, coming as it does on the heels of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate liftoff and money markets pricing nearly 200 basis points of increases this year alone.
TELECOM ITALIA SEEKS €3 BLN CREDIT LINE WITH STATE GUARANTEE
Telecom Italia has started talks with a pool of banks for a new credit line worth around €3 billion that could be partly guaranteed by Italy’s trade insurer SACE, three sources familiar with the matter said. The debt-laden former phone monopoly, hit by multiple rating downgrades following a record annual loss last year, is pressing ahead with plans to reorganize its business by spinning off assets.
EGYPT ECONOMY FORECAST TO GROW 5.1% IN YEAR TO JUNE, 5.5%
Egypt’s economy will grow 5.1% in the fiscal year that ends in June 2022 but accelerate to 5.5% in each of the following two years as tourism continues to rebound and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic wane, a Reuters poll showed. The central bank said last month’s economic growth surged to 7.7% in the final quarter of the last fiscal year, indicating growth of 3.3% for the entirety of 2020/21, up from a previous full fiscal-year estimate of 2.8%...
– JACK DORSEY, TWITTER FOUNDER
TAIWAN’S ‘BIGGEST OFFSHORE WIND FARM’ GENERATES ITS FIRST POWER
A large-scale offshore wind farm in waters off the coast of Taiwan has produced its first power, with those involved in the project describing the news as a “major milestone.” In a statement, Danish energy firm Orsted said the first power at the Greater Changhua 1 & 2a facility was delivered on schedule following the installation of its initial set of wind turbines. Electricity, it said, had been “transferred to Orsted’s onshore substations via array cables, offshore substations, and export cables. The renewable energy was fed into the national grid via Taipower’s substation.” Taipower is a state-owned utility, with the Orsted describing it as “Taiwan’s biggest offshore wind farm.” It will have a capacity of approximately 900 megawatts and use 111 turbines from Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. Capacity refers to the maximum amount of electricity installations can produce, not what they’re necessarily generating.
CNN+ SHUT DOWN ON 30 APRIL, ONE MONTH AFTER LAUNCH
MEDIA Warner Bros. Discovery has shut down CNN+ on 30 April, just weeks after the standalone streaming service launched. “This is not a decision about quality; we appreciate all of the work, ambition and creativity that went into building CNN+, an organization with terrific talent and compelling programming,” Chris Licht, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said in a statement. “But our customers and CNN will be best served with a simpler streaming choice.” The company also announced CNN+ head Andrew Morse is leaving Warner Bros. Discovery after a transition period.
GOOGLE’S NEW HUDSON RIVER CAMPUS IN MANHATTAN
As Google employees return to campus life following over two years of remote work, the company has a splashy new office for workers in New York. Google has officially opened a new campus on a Hudson River pier, and it sits on New York’s largest rooftop. The 630,000-square-foot campus, which sits on Pier 57, includes three buildings and has capacity for about 450 employees. The space, which includes a two-acre rooftop park, will include a new public food hall, community space and a tech-heavy public classroom that will provide environmental education programs.
